I went to feed the pond fish this morning and my dog came running from the yard with a HUGE very dead fish in his mouth (she dropped it immediatly of course). I thought it was one from our 3rd acre pond upon looking at it I realized it was Pika my big Koi. The gill had a huge hole but not real chewed up. Kina (my dog ) did not get him out I am sure of that we went out at the same time.

I am not sure what got him out of the pond or when I assume last night. I am sooooo very sad. He was my baby. So pretty and nice.

C2

I'm really sorry to hear that Christina. That sucks.

A hole through it's gill? Maybe from a heron?

I am sorry to hear that! My koi went missing but turned up a day later just swimming about![still alive thank god!]

Sorry about your Koi. I have heard that Herons will stab large fish and disguard them on shore. Have you ever seen any around your ponds? How big was he? :(

FM3

Oh Chris :( that is soooo very sad. I feel bad for you. What a horrible loss and a terrible thing for you to have to see :( Can you put a net over your pond??

So sad. Sorry for your loss.

So sorry Christina. I have a hard time burying a 2 inch goldfish, I can't even imagine a koi. :(

That's a bummer C2 :(

It's really tough when a predator takes one from the pond because it's so unexpected.

PG

C2, I am sorry that you lost your fish. That one won't be easily replaced. :(
Tia

Thanks guys!!1 it is still hard crazy hu?

i have seen 1 blue herron fly over the woods just aa week ago i have never ever seen one at the pond but we are way under trees.

Funny after I saw the herron I thought OH GOD, but there is a huge pond a foot ball field away but I have still never ever seen one until last week. I am not sure what it was I dont know i am at a loss

Do herrons have a time preference for hunting? If that is what it was then I am screwed. All the others are fine for now I still miss my Pika. :(

C2

Yikes! So, sorry about Pika. Was the hole in the gill like a spear hole? If so, it could have been a heron. If a heron spears a fish that's too big to swallow, it just leaves it. Herons prefer to hunt at dawn and dusk but sometimes hunt during the main part of the day. Night herons are smaller and hunt at night. Great blue herons will magically appear at dawn like clock work to ponds they are currently fishing. I had occasion to watch a heron come to my ponds almost every day for a month last fall. My ponds were netted but now only partially so. I hope he doesn't come back.

Robyn I really dont think it was a spear hole but then again I dont know what spear hole is. It was only surface and into the flesh a little. I am not sure.